'Bombay' is a name that stirs memories of dreams, ambition, and transformation. The city has been a muse for countless artists, but its own history is something straight out of a fantasy novel. As it changed hands from Portuguese rule to British, the water between the islands was drained and the gaps filled, connecting the seven islands into a singular urban expanse. What was once a fragmented archipelago became a powerful port city and a focal point of trade and commerce.
DAG’s upcoming showcase, 'Once Upon a Time in Bombay', takes us on a journey through this evolution, capturing the city's essence through the 19th and 20th centuries. Presented as part of the Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2025, this special exhibit is a prelude to a larger forthcoming exhibition. It unravels the tale of Mumbai’s metamorphosis through a collection of artworks that spotlight its layered history. The city’s vibrant street life, colonial-era grandeur, and the understated beauty of its hinterlands, all come alive in this captivating showcase.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Bombay was the 'Gateway to India'; a melting pot where cultures converged. Its docks welcomed traders, labourers, and visionaries, who each left an impression on the city’s identity. The exhibit chronicles this transformative period through three thematic sections — 'Sacred & Storied', 'By the Sea', and 'Cityscapes in Time'.
Each section provides a distinct perspective on Bombay’s evolution. 'Sacred & Storied' delves into the city’s spiritual and cultural fabric, revealing its intimate relationship with tradition. 'By the Sea' highlights Bombay’s coast, a defining element of its geography and soul. And 'Cityscapes in Time' captures the urbanization of Bombay, showcasing its journey into a modern cosmopolitan hub it is today.
A standout piece in the collection is the 1923 tinted lithograph 'Map of the Island of Bombay'. This historical artifact offers a rare glimpse into the city’s expansion during the 19th century, driven by land reclamation projects undertaken by the British colonial administration. The map details the ambitious efforts of the Municipal Corporation and the Municipal Trust to acquire and develop land, showcasing how Mumbai’s physical and economic landscapes were reshaped. The meticulous survey, conducted by J.F. Watson, an engineer with the East India Company, underscores the city’s transformation into a thriving urban centre.
Once Upon a Time in Bombay, with paintings rendered in diverse styles and mediums, act like a artistic timeline of Mumbai's past and present, inviting viewers to reflect on a city that, while transformed, retains its beauty in collective memory and imagination. While this exhibit offers a tantalizing preview, it also sets the stage for a larger exploration of Mumbai’s multifaceted history. The forthcoming exhibition promises to delve deeper into the lives of those who built, inhabited, and dreamed within this ever-changing metropolis.
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